What a Week

Just finished my readings and project for this week.  It's been a great getting back to some quiet time at night. I'm actually enjoying reading the textbook we're using for the class.  It has a lot of info about Web Tools to use in when teaching.  I'm hoping to bring some of it into my everyday life as well.  I just finished reading 2 chapters on blogs and the author discusses this site and and gives a tutorial for how to start a blog.  There certainly seems like an endless amount of ways to use a blog.

Since my last post, life has been in full force here at the Ellner house.  It all started Wednesday with Miles going to his first CDO class.  I had all 3 kids in school in the morning.  It was a weird feeling dropping off Miles, but he was very excited and it's going to be great for him.  That gave me the entire morning to myself for the first time in a long time.  So I spent 3 hours running errands and never had to undo one carseat.  After staying at home with the kids for 3 years, it's small things like that that get me excited.  I picked Macie up from BEBE and we were able to go to lunch before picking up Miles.  It was an awesome time.  Macie and I rarely get to spend one on one time.  She was so much fun to be with.  It is amazing how different the kids are when you have them by themselves.  The day ended with the most exciting news.  While buying a TV for Doug to surprise him for his birthday, I somehow turned into my father and decided I should be a new TV as well.  And if you're going to buy a new TV, it should be big and awesome.  So I got a 55 in Samsung LED.  It's freaking unreal.  It's like the people on the TV are in my living room.  Even Jill was impressed.

Friday, I made my annual trip to Spring Valley Elementary to juggle for the school at there Personal Best program.  I have been doing this for 6 years.  It's always something that I dread because I need to find sitters for the kids and drive to Junction City.  But I have to admit, I love doing it once I'm there.  I really miss talking to students and trying to motivate them.  That is why I became a teacher.  The kids there are great and it was another terrific show. 

Friday night we headed out to Harry's to celebrate our good friend, Cathy's, birthday.  Great friends, great wine, and great food.  Doesn't get much better than that.

Saturday was an awesome day for the Ellners.  I took Marcus to soccer in the morning.  He played 2 games which he was definitely getting tired toward the end of.  I think he likes it, but he is not the most aggresive kid.  Which is fine with me because he has a huge heart.  2 kids ran into each other and got hurt.  All the other kids moved on, but Marcus stayed there and made sure they were both okay.  A parent next to me said "that's one good kid".  Very exciting.  After soccer we met Jill and the kids at Texas Star.  Crazy lunch, but the food was good.  From there we headed to the zoo.  Our kids favorite place.  We actually went and did not need a stroller.  As much as I liked that, it just shows how fast the kids are growing up. 

Saturday night was great as I headed to Doug's to watch the KU-KSU game with a bunch of KSU fans.  Nothing better than watching your team beat the crap out of the team everyone else is rooting for.  The night was capped with a showing of the A-Team.  I was surprised that is was actually a good movie. 

That leads me to back here on the couch.  I am looking forward to lots of things this week.  Most of all I can't wait to work on turning our guest bedroom into the kids playroom.  Lots of great ideas and it should be nice. 

Will probably take of tomorrow and then start working on my next project Tuesday.  Goodnight!!

Another Late Night

So now I'm really starting to enjoy these late night homework sessions.  It's pretty much the only time during the day that I can focus and think about what I need to do.  It also gives me time to reflect on myself.  I am not one for peace and quiet and my life certainly plays that out, but I do think I will benefit from these evening sessions alone. 

I just finished posting a paper about differences in teachers uses of technology.  I think it basically comes down to are you committed to it and do you want it.  Teachers are still shying away from it and that is okay, but I am amazed at how things are changing.  I can only imagine what a classroom will look like if and when I go back to teaching.  There is a time coming when we will no longer have that choice of whether to introduce technology into our lives.

Best part of these nights is when I am finished and can just hang out.  I turned in my assignment and have my plan to start working on my next one.  A little research tomorrow and writing begins tomorrow night and finish Thursday.  Need to be done by Thursday because it's our first group night out in a long time and we need to get a little crazy.  I don't want to be bothered worrying about homework.

Also have the KU-KSU game this weekend.  KU just finished playing and escaped Colorado with a win.  It was close, but actually feel pretty good about the win.  KU has a lot going against them right now and a road game usually exposes you.  With the death of TRs mom, they are certainly playing with some emotions.  I could not imagin being in his situation.  19 yrs old with a 9 year old sister and everyone that has ever taken care of you dies within a month.  Thankfully he has the support of lots of people, but that is unreal.

I'm starting to ramble so I'm off to do a little TV and reading before bed. 

Entering a new stage

As if I wasn't busy enough being a "Stay at Home Dad" to 3 kids and an amazing husband to an amazing wife, I have decided it time to go back to school.  So for the first time in over 15 years, I am actually studying and writing papers for a grade again.  I am beginning the process of getting a masters in Classroom Technology, which is a little wierd since I am a PE teacher.  I have always loved technology though and since I did most of the technology grunt work for my school when I was teaching, it seems to fit.  In fact, taking this class has motivated me to start up this blog for my second try at it.  My aim now is to keep a blog about what being a dad, husband, and student is all about.  Now I am far from original or special for being all 3 at once, but I am hoping to shed some light on what this all entails, especially when I have the crazy but fun familiy I do.

I started my class this week and it has been a great start.  I am doing most of my work after 10:00 at night  so I am getting to enjoy some peace and quiet around my house.  I wasn't so sure that happened here anymore.  As I am writing now, it is 11:30 pm and I have just read 2 chapters and watched 2 videos about technology and teachers.  I still have 3 chapters to read but that isn't due till Wednesday.  I am actually going to try to stay ahead of the game here since I never did that while I was in college the first time.  What I am finding about this first week is that while there is some interesting info out there, I believe the shock and awe of this technology wave is over.  They seem to want to show you a lot of stats that are supposed to blow you away, when actually if you haven't figured out technology is growning and coming fast you are blind.  It's a significant part of my life and I assume it will keep growing.  From me sitting here in my den writing this on my laptop, to my wife and I have 3 different conversations while texting at lunch, I'm not sure what I would do without technology at this point.  Anyways, I'm getting ahead of myself.  I have written 2 papers and responded to a bunch of my classmates work.  It's fun to see different opinions, but right now I just think we are all trying to figure out what the teacher wants. 

I have to get back to reading and Miles just started crying for me so I'm going to go.  Wish me luck on this new stage of my life and since I'm the only one probably reading this blog for the time being, "Good Luck Mark!"